Karen Hinson's Story
Former client credits ACR for her success
The staff of AIDS Community Resources received a letter of thanks from Karen Hinson, who played many roles at ACR: consumer of services, volunteer, street outreach peer, and featured portrait in the 2008 ACR calendar.
Karen shared her story at ACR's World AIDS Day service on December 1, 2010 at Panascie Family Chapel at LeMoyne College. This photo with Executive Director Michael Crinnin was taken at that time. Following are excerpts from her note.
“I remember the fear I had when I first got out of a cab and walked through the doors of ACR back in 2003. I was a real mess. I had just gotten clean, was a methadone program, and enrolled in a supportive living program. My mental health treatment came through ACR. My ACR Case Manager helped me so much in dealing with the stigma of being HIV-positive, going back to college, and just trying to start over with all these obstacles as well as of the challenge of living without drugs and undergoing treatment for Hepatitis C; a year long process.
“After finishing school, I came back to ACR as a volunteer, but this time as a receptionist and peer outreach worker. I had never spoken on the phone or run a switchboard of any kind, so I got through that fear as well. This experience ultimately helped me get the job I have now.
“Speaking in high schools and up at SU was scary at first. I just spoke from my heart and left nothing out. The mistakes I made, the bad choices and the ultimate consequence was something I used to hide out of shame. Now I just want to tell other young, smart kids (just as I was at one time) what can happen once you decide to take risks. For whatever the reason it is to get intoxicated, to get high, to have one night stands, whether it be to self medicate or just plain ole peer pressure and not wanting to feel left out, it simply is not worth it.
I don't make a lot of money, but sometimes money can't buy everything - I still ride a bike to work but I have a new place all of my own, and as of October first, I am off of all Public Assistance.
At one time, I was a call girl, coke, then heroin addict - this lasted from 21 yrs of age to just 8 years ago. I was out there for a long time. I had a lot of support here in CNY, but none that helped me more, in so many different ways, and for such a long time, than ACR.
Thank you for helping to save and heal my life. Getting clean is the easy part. Rebuilding a life can be so daunting and overwhelming that it is easy to want to escape this harsh reality that I created in my younger years. I believe if more people got involved with organizations like AIDS Community Resources, they would make a successful recovery. Karen Hinson
